Hayfork signaling device



Feb. 23 1926.

J. H. CLIF'T HAY FORK SIGNALING DEVICE Filed Sept. 22 1925 ]N VENTOR.

J11, czz z BY ATTORNEYS.

Patented Feb. as, 1926.

PATENT QFFICE.

JOHN HENRY 'oLIFr, or FREDONIA, KENTUCKY.

HAYFORK SIGNALING DEVICE.

Application filed September 22, 1925. Serial No. 57,896.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN H. Curr, a citizen of the United States, residing Fredon-ia, in the county of Caldwell and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in I-layfork Signaling Devices, of which the following isa specification, reference being had there- .in to the accompanying drawings. in

This invention relates to a hay fork signaling device, and the object of the 111- vention is the provision of simple and efficient means to indicate to the driver who drives the team, or to the engineer controlling the engine. that pulls the hay up into the" barn, when to return for reloading the fork with hay. The signaling is to be accomplished at the time of trlppmg the fork, to dump the same in the hay mow, or on a stack. 7

'Heretoforathe only way of giving the signalingwas for the man on the load to call to the man on the other side of the barn when he wanted him to stop and returnagainfor another draft of. hay, where- 'as with my invention the bell rings and gives the signal; with the tripping of the V fork.

. constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in' the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure llS a viewin elevation of a hay fork showing my invention applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the striking device used in the embodiment shown in Figure 1. e

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in elevation of a hay fork showing another embodi ment of my invention.

Figure 1 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of one of the trip levers, showing the striking device, in perspective, lllustrated in Figure 3, while Figure 5 is a longitudinal, vertical sectional View of the same.

Figure 6 is an enlarged view, partly in elevation and partly in section of the bell bar 2. An eye 3 is formed on the central portion of frame 1, through which is passed the suspending cable or rope 4. On-frame 1 are pivotally mounted, at 5, the trip levers 66. To the inner ends of these trip levers are attached the ends of the ordinary cables 7.

Referring to the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2:

The hell 8 is supported upon stem 9, which stem is passed through an apertured portion 10 on bar 2, and the bell is adjustably mounted to a nicety by reason of being held in an adjusted position through set-screw 11; it will be obvious that the operator can adjust the bell 8 upwardly or downwardly, after first loosening set-screw 11, andthen by tightening the set-screw, the bell will be held in the desired adjusted position. The striking device 12 includes a curved plate 13 and striker 1 1; this plate 13 is curved to conform to the curved inner face of the trip lever to which the striking device is attached. When the cable is pulled by the operator this causes the trip levers to move downwardly, resulting in the striking 'device striking the hell 8 and sounding the signal or alarm,- whereupon the person having charge of the team that is lifting the load, or the engineer in charge of the engine will be warned to stop immediately the further lifting of the hay fork. Then the operator of the team or the engine can lower the hay fork for a new load.

Referring to the embodiments shown in Figures 3 to 6: j

The hell 8 is suspended from a hinged stem 15 (Fig. 6) which stem is threaded into eye 3, for adjustment purposes, whereas in the embodiment in Figure 1 the stem 9 is adjusted in the enlarged portion 10: and held in the adjusted position by set-screw 11. The parts of the stem 15 are hingedly connected together by pivot pin 16. The striking device 14, in this embodiment, includes the curved plate 17 with the striker 18, and this plate is provided with an elongated slot 19, in which is positioned the screw 20, so that the striking device 14 can be adjusted accurately upon the curved face of the trip lever to which it is secured, whereby when the trip lever is held down by the cable 7 to permit the load to be dumped, the striker 18 will strike against the hell 8 giving the desired signal. 13y reason of the bell 8 being pivotally mounted. at 16 upon the eye 3, said bell will yield or give by means of a swinging action, so that it will not be injured if the adjustment ofthe ings, certain minor changesor alterations may appear to one skilled in the art to which this invention relates, during the extensive manufacture of the same, and I, therefore,

reserve the right to make such alterations 'or changes as shall fairly fall- Within the scope of the appended claims. 4

What I claim is: 1. In a hay fork signaling device, the combination with a frame, of a bell on said frame, a trip lever on said frame and adapted to move towards and away from said bell, and a striking device provided with a curved plate fitting snug against the trip lever for striking said bell when the trip lever is moved towards said hell.

2. In a hay fork signallin device, the combination of a frame, a vertlcally adjustable bell. carried by'said frame, a pivotally mounted triplever on saidframe and adapt ed to swing close "to. said bell, and astriking devlce secure'd to said-trip lever and adapted to strike said bell when said trip lever is swungtowards the bell.

3. In a hay fork signaling device, the combinationof a frame, an adjustable and a swinging bell carried by said frame, a trip lever carried by said frame and adapted to move towards and away from said bell, an adjustable striking device attached to said and adapted to swing close to said bell, a

striking device including a curved plate provided with astriker, saidplate provided with an elongated slot, and a screw in said slot and threaded into said trip lever for holding the striking device in an accurate adjusted position for striking the bell when the trip lever is swung close to the bell.

5. In a hay fork signaling device, the combination of a frame provided with an,

eye, a trip lever pivotally mounted on the,

side of said frame and adapted to move towards the center of the frame, a two section stem hingedly connected together and threaded into said eye, a bell supported upon the lower end of said stem, a striker device including a curved plate and a striker on one edge of said trip lever, said plate provided with an elongated slot, and a screw in said slot and threaded into said trip lever wherebythe strikerdevice is adjusted to a nicety with respect to the bell for striking thebell when the trip lever isswung upon the frame.

6. In a 'hay fork signaling device, the combination with a frame, of signaling means mounted on said frame, a trip lever pivotally mounted on said frame, signal operating means mounted on said trip lever and adapted to operate said signaling means when the trip lever is pivoted on said frame to release a load, and means connected to said trip lever for pivoting the same to a load-releasing position.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my Y signature.

JOHN HENRY oLIrr. 

